KAR4. Classic Kamchatka

Type: Adventure
Tour duration: 14 days
Months of Operation:June – September
Recommended group size: 2 – 16
Mode of Travel: minibus, 6WD bus, on foot, raft, boat

This is a saturated survey tour which grants the best opportunity to get acquainted with all main attractions of Kamchatka: active volcanoes, hot springs, wild nature and traditional culture of native peoples without expensive helicopter flights. Nevertheless you also have an option to take a helicopter excursion to the world famous Valley of Geysers.

You visit the Tolbachik area in the Central Kamchatka 500 km from Petropavlovsk, where the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption took place in 1975-76 and has left impressive after-effects: new volcanic cones with hot summits, huge ash fields, hardened lava streams, ash-burned forest. Tops of the new cones are still blazing. This area is a reminiscence of the Moon and first Soviet lunar vehicles were tested here.

You enter the crater of the Mutnovsky Volcano with intensive powerful gas and steam spurts and boiling mood cauldrons. Mutnovsky is considered the most impressive Kamchatka volcano now because it is always active.

You cross taiga and mountains by rafts along the Bystraya River with good chances to see brown bears and to fish salmon.

You visit national settlements of native people – the Evens and get acquainted with their history, culture and present life. You also have a chance to see their national holiday 'The Aborigine’s Day' if come there in proper time.

Relaxation at Hot Springs resort in Paratunka adds to your experience of life in Kamchatka.

 

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival in Petropavlovsk. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Acclimatization. At 20:00 - dinner with your guide and discussing the trip. (D)

Day 2. Boat cruise in the Avachinskaya Bay (5-6 hours). Visiting nestling-places of sea birds at Babushkin Kamen (Grandmother's Rock) island and Starichkov island in the open Pacific Ocean. Evening ride (100 km) by all-terrain bus to the foot of Mutnovsky volcano. Setting a base camp. Walking to a waterfall. Overnight in tents. (BLD)

Day 3. Ascending the crater of Mutnovsky volcano (2322 m). Viewing active fumarolas, mud siphons, acid lakes. Duration of the whole excursion is around 8 hours. Overnight in tents. (BLD)

Day 4. Ascending the Gorely volcano (1829 m). Hiking along lava and slag fields. Evening ride by all-terrain bus to Paratunka Hot Springs resort. Accommodation in hotel. Bathing in thermal basin. (BLD)

Day 5. Relaxation in Paratunka. Optional excursion to Valley of Geysers by helicopter (weather dependent). Evening ride (130 km) to Malkinsky Hot Springs. Overnight in tents. Bathing in natural thermal waters. (BLD)

Day 6. Transfer by all terrain vehicle to the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes (460 km) with stop for lunch at Milkovo village (payment on spot). Kamchatka River crossing by ferry. Transfer to the foot of two picturesque volcanoes – Ostry (Sharp) Tolbachik and Plosky (Flat) Tolbachik (90 km, 3 hours). If weather is fine you can see also the highest volcanoes of Kamchatka: Krestovsky (4057 m), Ushkovsky (3903 m), Klyuchevskoy (4750 m), Kamen (4579 m). Accommodation at tents at the so called Lunakhod Base area. (BLD)

Day 7. Ascending Plosky Tolbachik volcano (3080 m) to see a grand panorama of Klyuchevskaya volcanic group. The duration is about 7-8 hours. Return to base camp. Overnight in tents. (BLD)

Day 8. Excursion by all-terrain vehicle to the Northern new cones. Ascending new cones 100-200 m high which represent mini-volcanos. Further ride to the Dead Forest and the Southern new cones. Return to base camp. Overnight in tents. (BLD)

Day 9. Ride (150 km, 5 hours) to Esso. Excursion to the Evens and Koryaks ethnographic complex in Anavgai en-route. Accommodation in a small private hotel. Bathing in thermal basin. (BLD)

Day 10. Acquaintance with Even national settlement Esso. Visit the Esso Ethnography Museum. Relaxation. Overnight in hotel. (BLD)

Day 11. Transfer to Malki village (400 km, 7 hours) by all-terrain vehicle to Malky. Start of rafting along Bystraya River. Overnight in tents at river bank. (BLD)

Day 12. Rafting along Bystraya River through wild nature (high probability to see bears or Steller's sea eagles). Fishing. Overnight in tents. (BLD)

Day 13. End of rafting and return to Paratunka by all-terrain bus (180 km). Overnight in a hotel. (BLD)

Day 14. Fish market. Transfer to airport. Departure from Petropavlovsk. (B)

Legend: B - breakfast, L - lunch, D – dinner.

Note: sequence of the arrangments may be changed  due to local conditions.

Tour Highlights:

• Tolbachik Volcano area – grand consequences of the recent Huge Tolbachik Eruption
• Esso – national settlement of the Evens (indigenous people of Kamchatka) with wonderful Ethnography Museum
• Bystraya River– good possibility of rafting through wild nature
• Mutnovsky Volcano – impressive active volcano with powerful gas and steam spurts and boiling mood cauldrons
• Valley of Geysers – world famous sight with more than 40 geysers

Fixed departures – 2012 (guaranteed with English speaking guide):

26/06-09/07/2012
11/07-24/07/2012
26/07-08/08/2012
10/08-23/08/2012
25/08-07/09/2012

Costs for tourists - 2012:

 2138 EUR per person for joining in a fixed departure 1-16 PAX

 Note: a staff of the combined group may vary during the trip.

 

Included:

•  TWN accommodation (QDR in Esso is possible because of limited capacity of the hotel))

• full board

• all necessary transfers including arrival and departure

• all necessary equipments

• all excursions per program with entrance fees

• local English speaking guides/ interpreters

•  subsidiary crew when needed

Not included:

•  air flights

• optional activities and excursions to be paid on spot

•  insurance

•  visa
  
  tour leader

 Supplements:

•  SGL in hotels: +261 EUR per person

•  Helicopter excursion to Valley of Geysers with UzonCaldera (to pay on spot)around 755 EUR per person

•  Air flight Moscow - Petropavlovsk - Moscow around 800 EUR per person (may be lower with early booking)

 Recommended equipment:

1) backpack or travel bag,

2) a sleeping bag, camping mat,

3) hiking shoes or rubber boots,

4) removable shoes (sneakers)

5) personal hygiene, bathing accessories,

6) Jacket with hood

7) sweater

8) sunglasses

9) Headwear

10) headlamp

11) gloves

12) telescopic sticks

13) Personal first aid kit,

14) spray for mosquitoes.

 

 All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking